Lucy Olsen set to fill the big shoes of Caitlin Clark at Iowa.
From Villanova to Iowa, Olsen’s ready to slam dunk her final college season and chase her pro dreams
Olsen’s decision comes at a crucial time for Iowa’s women’s basketball program, as they look to fill the void left by Clark, who recently set several scoring records.
With an impressive average of 23.3 points per game, Olsen was the third-highest scorer in the country last season, trailing only behind USC’s JuJu Watkins and Caitlin Clark herself. Besides her scoring prowess, Olsen also brings strong rebounding and assisting skills to the Hawkeyes, averaging 4.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists.
Iowa’s coach, Lisa Bluder, celebrated Olsen’s commitment with a creative social media video that featured her in a montage with rapper Travis Scott, symbolizing a grand entrance for Olsen. The viral clip quickly spread among fans and was a hit on Iowa’s X page.
The recruitment of Olsen was swift, with Coach Bluder contacting her immediately after she entered the transfer portal on April 9. “Coach Bluder called me right away,” Olsen shared. “I hopped on a Zoom call with the staff, and they were the nicest people ever. They felt like family.”
Lucy Olsen: Embracing new challenges and opportunities at Iowa
“I’m not trying to be Caitlin Clark, but they need a point guard,” Olsen said, acknowledging the inevitable comparisons. “It’s a perfect opportunity to try to make something happen.”
As Iowa prepares for the upcoming season, all eyes will be on Olsen to see if she can match or even surpass the high standards set by Clark. Her integration into the Hawkeyes’ lineup is eagerly anticipated, with expectations for her to immediately start producing significant results on the court.